Wallpaper Borders and Wall Border Stencils

Even people who have personally designed the rooms in their home can get tired of looking at the same monotone wall every day. One easy way to add a little color and character to a room that's getting a bit dry is with a wallpaper border or wall border stencil.

Wallpaper Borders
Those looking for a quick and easy fix for the bare wall blues, look no further! Wallpaper borders are easy to put up and come in a wide array of styles. They can add just enough accent to make the room more interesting, without altering its original charm.

Purchasing wallpaper borders is less expensive than painting or papering an entire wall. It is also a project that almost anyone can complete in a few hours. They can be installed just at the top of a wall, or on the bottom, too. Most require only a few common tools to put up, and only enough experience to know what looks good.

If you can't find a wallpaper border that suits you, or you're looking for something truly unique, you can try making your own borders out of sheets of wallpaper. This will increase the styles and patterns you have to choose from. Some might consider making borders out of vintage wallpaper. The vintage stuff is often expensive to cover a whole room with, but a very good looking border can be made of the same paper for a fraction of the cost. The process is a bit more involved with a vintage border because much of the paper is not self adhesive, and must be stuck on with a separate glue.

Wall Border Stencils
If you have a more artistic bent, a wall border stencil might be a good option for you. The craft itself is very old, but you'll have the luxury of working with materials not available back then. Once you've got your design drawn, you trace it onto stencil paper (not paper at all, it's a very thin but firm sheet of translucent plastic). Cut it out with a utility knife or craft knife, and then you're ready to paint.

If you don't want to make a stencil yourself, you can find them already made in a variety of designs. If you've never worked with a stencil before, it's worth trying out on a piece of cardboard or wood that won't be a permanent fixture in your home. They can be a bit tricky and may require some practice. While it's certainly possible to use a paint brush or roller with your stencil, anyone who has access to an airbrush or paint sprayer will have an easier time.

Existing Wall Borders
If you already have wood borders on your walls, doors, and windows, changing their color can easily alter the look of a room. Painting borders, while not as time consuming as painting whole walls, needs to be every bit as well planned. Make sure to put tape around the edges of the border, and make sure it's painter's tape. Many have fallen victim to pulled up paint chips by using scotch tape as a substitute.